Apparatus for handling thread or the like



H. B. KLINE .ET AL APPARATUS FORHANDLING THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l l5 Q 7 A Fly; 2

1&5

/ INVENTORS HAYDEN B. KLINE ALDEN H. BURKHOLDER ATTORNEY 0a. 31,193a. H. B. KL INE ET "AL 2.178.104

' APPARATUS FOR HANDLING THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTORS HAYDEN B. KLINE ALDEN .H. BURKHOLDER' ATTORNEY Patentedodt'zil, 1939 i Y nayd'en n; Kline and Alden vnfndrkhoi er;

I Cleveland; a'assimors to lndustrlal Rayon Y "CorporatiomOlmland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware a 7 1o (c1: sol-2mm I This invention relates to a drying reel. on which,

other end free and unobstructed, providing a" control1edshrinka'ge of the thread :or the like. l Reels of this type, are particularly, well adapted to 1 the drying of thread or the like, sincethey pro-q vide ease'of manipulation of the threadpr-the like on the reel and sincetheyjimpart desirable characteristics to thethrea or theiike a.s a,re,-; ,sult of,thedryingfloperation.

The drying: h i r the like} particularly artificialfsilk'thread produced by a wet-spinning process, plays a very important partin determining the final characteristics of the finished pr0d-;-

uct. For instance,uniformityorlack funirormity oif'the drying treatment to which the thread or the like is subjected determines to a very large extent the degree; of uniformity of the physical and physico-chernical characteristics, of the,

thread or the like; Thus portions of the thread or thelike which, during drying-were undersmore. tension than other portions, crgwere prevented from shrinking to the same extent as other por-* tions, onwere not driedto-cthesame extent as other, portions, have ,characteristics markedly difierentfrom such other portionsofuthe-thread or the like. Inthe case of viscose artificial silk, thread, suchdifierences include variations in dye adsorption characteristics, tensile strength; and,

' residual capacity to shrink; I

v Residual capacity to shrink maybe defined as the amount which, in proportion-to its original; length, dry thread or the like will shrink upon;be-; ing rewet andredried in unrestrained condition;

It is obviously desirable that the thread or the like have cha acteristics,.-,including particularly residual capacity to shrink, t as uniform as possiw ble along its en-tiretlength, this in ,order that. a;

fabric formed from the thread or the like will presentasmootheven appearance-" Such uniformity is particularly desirablezin 'the 'oase of thread or theilik e formed into' woven fab -ics; in which, because-of the construction thereof, variations in thread characteristics are-particularly noticeable? Nevertheless, :in conventional meth= ods of manufacturing artificial silk" thread by wet-spinning processes, "the degree of uniformity; of the conditions'of drying'necessarytoinsurrea sonably complete uniformity in residual capacity not actually, impossible to obtain;

to shrink is, as a practical matter, many, a

In thev conventional spool spinning system. in

which the thread or the likeis extruded into a coagulating bath, collected one. spool, anddried 5 while wound onth'e' spooi, the resulting residual capacity of .the thread or thelike .to shrink .varies widely at 'diilerent points along the length of k the .threadorthe like. For instancaportions of the thread or fthelike; which are largely or entirely 10 prevented} from shrinking upon drying, such, for

example,las portions wound directlyon the spooland portions t e outer surfaces of the cake which: dry more rapidly. thanthe inner layers of v the thread' or the like will ,beifro'u d to have una du y highi'isidual capacities to shrink, much, sometimes, as. 4 ofthcir original-dryllength; Other portionsoi the thread or the like which are; permittedeto shrink more 'or. less freely, such as portionsof the thread or the like in the central 20" layers of the "cake, will have relatively, lowres'idual capacities to Qshrink. Within a single length of thread for ,the like, therefora; portions may exist which will have residual capacities to l, shrink twenty,tin es as great asthose of other 25' j t n a a I If thread or the like manufactuifedby the cone ventional pot-spinning system is dried inthe cake in which it is collected,- similar diilerencesin residuallcapacities to occur for wholly simig 0" lar,,,.reasons. with a view to eliminating these factors as well ,asfor other reasons hereinafter to, b'e' ekplained, a considerable part of the arti-p ficial silkthread produced by the pot-spi'nning system is unwound while wet from the cake in 35 which it, isvcollected andv wound in 'skein; form,"

in which formiit is dried [while hangingllooselyr However, skeinrdried' thread orJthe likedoes not possess as high" a .degreegof a uniformity, either of residualcapacity to shrink or of other charac- 40" teris'tics, asjrnight be esired; t i being due to the fact that 'th'e weight of the thread or the like asit hangs,v iro m the skein-carrying rod 'whilebeing drie'dmay tendto'fstretch certainportions of i v the thread on the like and to the factthat all pori5 nods of fthe'thread orthe like in the skeindo not dry at the same rate] Obviously, theseisame dis-J rics. it is very important that the residual capacity to shrink be low. In the production of woven fabrics, the fabric is initially woven to a width substantially equal to or slightly greater than the finished fabric. In the finishing operations. the woven fabric, after being washed, dyed, etc.. is dried in tentering frames which hold the fabric to the desired finished width. If the thread or the like of which the fabric is formed has a high residual capacity to shrink, tearing of the fabric may result during the drying operation, due to stresses set up in the fabric as it dries while thus being held in the tentering frames. For this reason it is imperative that the thread or the like of which the fabric is formed have a low residual capacity to shrink, particularly since the looms used in the weaving industry are of standard widths which do not admit of adjustment to compensate for excessive shrinkage or undue stress in the fabric.

Disadvantages inherent in the conventional methods of drying thread or the like are obviated by drying the thread or 'the like on reels of the kind provided by the present invention. By means of such a reel, the thread or the like may be dried while being continuously temporarily stored in a plurality of advancing generally hells cal turns. The thread or the like may meanwhile be permitted to shrink to an extent which resuits in imparting to the thread or the like the desired residual capacity to shrink. Such residual capacity to shrink may be as low as desired, as, for instance, of the slight order required in the weaving arts. Furthermore, since only a single layer of the thread or the like is subjected to the action of the drying medium, since each portion of the thread or the like passing over the reel is subjected to exactly the same drying conditions. and since,regardless of the length of the thread or the like, shrinkage to exactly the same extent is made possible, such characteristics of the thread produced at a much lower cost than heretofore possible.

I 'or'these reasons, drying ,reels embodying the present invention find wide application in various methods of'and apparatus for processing thread or the like. As examples, artificial silk thread may be unwound from the's'pool package or spinning cake, as the case may be. dried on a winding reel of the type provided by this invention, and collected in any suitable way. Likewise, artificial silk thread may, simultaneously with the formation of the thread, be dried on a reel of the type provided by the present invention, for example, on apparatus of the type shown, described and claimed in prior cop-ending application Serial No. 'l,ll4,'filed February 18,1935. For the purposes of convenience and illustration, but in no sense of limitation, the invention will be hereinafter described in connection with the drying of viscose artificial silk thread on a reel forming Part of a,

machine for the continuous manufacture of arti flcial silk thread of the general type disclosed in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 7,114. In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of a machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same machine. parts being broken away.

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partlyin axial section. of a reel embodying the invention.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the reel on line 4-4 Figure 3.

Y in aplurality of generally helical turns; Three such reels, bearing reference numerals 2, 3 and I, are shown in the drawings. On reel 2 the thread may be subjected to a liquid processing operation such as washing with water showered down on the reel by any suitable means, such liquid being caught in a trough I extending longitudinally of the machine and serving a number of reels in a horizontal series. On reel 3 the thread may be stored for the purpose of allowing excess liquid to drip from the thread. Reel 4 is a reel of the type contemplated by the present invention, on which the thread is dried before being collected by suitable means such as captwister 6. Reels I, 3 and 4 may, as illustrated, be of cantilever form, in which case the reels may be disposed in a stepped arrangement, as illustrated. Such an arrangement is advantageous in that it provides ready access to the reels for threading up, inspection, replacement, repair, etc. Each of the reels in a vertical series may be driven as illustrated through gears I and I from a drive shaft I which is drlvenfrom a main drive shaft ll extending longitudinally of the machine.

The several reels other than reel 4 may be generally similar in construction and thread-advancing function to reel 4, wherefore only reel I, which is illustrated as embodying the invention and which is shown indetail in Figures 8 and 4. will be described in detail.

This reel consists of two sets of interdigitating bar members I! and n. Bar members I! are disposed upon the periphery of a cylindrical body It concentrically mounted on shaft II. The bar members II are carried by a flange member ll rotatably mounted upon frame bracket I! through which shaft ll passes. The axis of rotation of the set of bar members I. is offset from and askew to the axis of rotation of the set of bar members it. Because of this relation, thread wound about the reel during rotation thereof is caused to advance in spaced generally helical turns along the length of the reel. Reels of this general construction are shown. described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 852,089, filed January 16, 1933, to which reference may be had for a more aetailed explanation of the principle of opera- Reels embodying the invention include a thread-bearing periphery of which certain successive perimeters, taken on planes at right angles to the axis of the reel, diminish axially of the reel toward the free endof the reel to 70 on which portion the thread starts on the reel;

' of Fi ures-,1 andzrromchamber .194. The latmerglng therewith, an intermediateportion 'havter may be extended longitudinally of themaingv perimeters which, similarly taken on planes .at right angles to the axis or the reel, diminish progressively, thus allowing the thread to'shrink as it is. dried; and a terminal portion extending to theiree end ofthe reeldefining .a body of uniform cross'section throughout its length, the perlmeters of [said terminal portion being. .less

than the perimeters of said first-mentioned portion by an amount corresponding .to whichitis desired to allow 'thethreadto shrink. seen from Figure 3, the: preferred embodiment of the invention in a reel of this typehasfa periphery comprising two substantially cylindrical portions "A B'and C-D, the latter. of which'is o f less diameter than the former. and isdis'posed atthe free. end of the reel, and, 'mergingfwith said sub-v stantially cylindrical portions, an] intermediate portion B-{ih'aving regularly varying"diameters which. decrease from, the diameter. of portion AB tothe diameter orf portion -1 The portion B-C, may, as illustratedQtake'the form of a frustum of a. cone..

' The. proportions of generallycylindrical.por-

:tjor'i'A-B of .the reelare preferablyfsuch ,that.

the thread starting on portion .Aj ,n ;or the *deeL'either at point A or at some point; nearer point B, has had sufllcient moistureremoved therefrom to cause substantial shrinkage thereof to commence .whenit reaches point 13. From point B'to point, C the periphery or the reel diminishes in diameter, allowing .the thread ;to shrink as it is advanced therealong whilebeing subjected to drying medium. Proportions of the portion B-C of. the reel are such thatthe thread is allowed to shrink thedesired amount bythe time it reaches the portion CD"of theqreel. The drying of the thread may be completed on portion C--D .of the reel. ,Siricethe thread may not be' completely dried when it starts on, portion C-D of the reel, shrinkage of the thread may be halted, as a result of which fact a; defijnite residual capacity to shrink may be imparted to the thread. I v 1 7 a The residual capacity to shrinkwhich is thus imparted to the thread is determined by th'exreslation between the diameters of portion-0 p and portion A.B.' By varying the diameter of portion C--D with respect to the diameter of por'.- tion A- B' of'the reel, the residual. capacity of the thread .to shrink may be varied} Eur-instance, by decreasing the diameter of, generally cylindrical portion C-D of the 'reel the residual:

capacity or the thread to shrink maygbe de' creased. By increasing'the diameteroffsaid generally cylindrical portionC-D, the residual capacity of the thread to shrink maybe increased.

The length'of portion C -D of thereel is preferably such as to allow the threadto dry to the desired condition. It.is also preferably of sub "ficientflength to enable .the thread to reacha,

state of drying. equilibriun'i; i. e, become. "set in a flnal condition, beforefit leaves the reel; and. passes to the collecting device. If the thread is being twisted, as in a case where the drying reel;

is employed in apparatus of the type of Figures 1 and 2, it may bedesirable not to' dry the thread, to a bone dry condition, but to a statedn which it possesses amoisture content, in thesneighbob hoodof 10%. a r

Although the thread on the reel mayg befsu b-a jected by. various means tothe'action of a drying medium, in the embodiment shown the, reel is provided with 1 a hollow-drive shaft l to which heated air may be supplied, as in the apparatus chine and'serverlike drying reels in a horizontal series. The'heated air passes through holes in driveshaft l5 toa space 22 within the cylindrical; body ll-voffthereeiwhence it passesthrougnholes 23 in the wall of said 5 cylindrical body. .These holes may terminate in opposite relation to the spaces between the bars l2.

It.;;has been -,1'ound 1thatv the drying of the threadgis materially aided ,:by conduction of heat i'fl fi reel/ is made of some metal having good heat conductivity, such as aluminum; and if the construction of, the reel is such thatthe bars on 5 which thethreadis supported are of appreciable mass. In the illustrated reel, the solid bar members l2 and 1-3 and the cylindrical body are sufllciently massiveto become heated by the pas-.-

sage of theheatedair throughthe reel and re- .tain thelheat, and thus all thread-bearing pore tionsotthe peripheryjof theqreel are heated. This aids'materially inthe drying of the thread wound on the reel. Therefore the reel stores heat to a certain extent,.in consequence of which fact momentaryfluctuations in the temperature of the heated air supplied to the reel do not af-' fect ;the. =rate of drying 01' the thread. Thisassists in the obtaining of the desired uniformity o 1 dry ng conditions.

drying conditions as well shown, after which itfmay be recirculated to sup- -ply ani ol The cantilever construction of the drying reels oi the present invention also provides numerous advantages in ,the operation of such reels.

The cantilever constructionror instance, obviates numerous diihcultiesattendant upon the .op-

eration 01 starting the thread on drying reels. The mostconvenient way of threading up reels of the. general type described is to bringthe wet thread into contact with the bars of thereel as it is rotated. Since the thread is wet, it adheres to" thebars, As thereelis rotated, succeeding turns of thread are formed and advanced axially of the reel. However, for obvious reasons, it isdeslrable inflthe great ,majority of cases that the reel be threaded up while it is operating under drying conditions, since it would be; both diihcult and uneconomical toshutoif the supply 'of' drying mediumor allow the reel to cool everytime it is desired to thread upthe, reel.-

Howevenwhen, while being threaded'up; the

reel is operated underv drying conditions,- the threadbecomes dry as it is progressed axially of" the. reel and consequentlythe leading end of the thread may not adhere to the bars of the reel" but may leave the'reel; in which case the thread will leavethefreel before the reel is completely threaded up If this should occur in the threading up of-the cantilever drying reel of the present invention; on which .reelthe thread is advanced fr0mthe rear'of the'reel toward the free end thereof, it is a simple matter for the operator either to wind the remaining turns of thread on the reel over the free end of the reel or to reengage the free end of the thread on the reel over the free end of the reel, and allow the threading up of the reel to proceed to completion. 'fhis is I made possible by the free and unobstructed end of the cantilever drying reel of the present invention. It would be difficult, if notimposslble, toperform such operations on a reel supported 1. fromboth ends.

Furthermore, the free and unobstructed end of the reel of the present invention is extremely advantageous in providing a means of control of the drying treatment to which the thread is subjected 1| while stored on the reel. For instance, as has been previously indicated; for easier handling of the thread it is often desirable to have a definite moisture content in the thread after it has been subjected to the drying step, which moisture con- I tent may be in the neighborhood of 10%. It is possible, due to the variations in the drying conditions, such, for example, as variations in the temperature of the heating air, that if the thread proceeds to the extreme end ofthe reel it may be I subjected to drying medium for a period longer than that necessary to reduce'the moisture content of the thread to the desired condition. in which case the moisture content of the thread may bereduced to too low a point. Because of I the free and unobstructed end of the reel of the invention, it is, however, a simple matter for the operator. without breaking the thread, to reduce the number of turns of thread stored on the reel by drawing the desired number of turns of thread oi! the free end of the reel.

Conversely, if the thread is not being advanced to the end of the reel but is leaving the reel at some point back of the free end of the reel and it is duired for any reason to increase the number so of turns of thread on the reel, as, for example, to increase the length of time to which the thread is subjected to drying medium to more completely dry the thread, it is a simple matter for the operator to wind more turns of thread on the reel over as the free end of the reel without breaking the thread or interrupting in any way the continuous travel of the thread or the operation of the reel or collecting device. Such steps, which are obviously of great advantage in controlling and adgo iusting the drying operation to which the thread is subjected, cannot be performed in any form of drying reel other than a cantilever drying reel. Therefore, as a result of the cantilever construction of the drying reel of the present invention,

is it is possible to obtain greater uniformity of drying treatment to which the thread is subjected with consequent greater uniformity of the characteristics of the thread.

The exact proportions and sizes of the various M parts of the thread-bearing periphery of the drying reels of the present invention are of course dependent on the kind of thread being dried: the amount of residual shrinkage desired; the kind,

sine, and speed of operation of the reel; the kind as and intensity of drying medium, etc. All of these factors must be considered in designing the reel. The following illustrative examples, to which the present invention is in no way intended to be restricted, are indicative of the use of reels of the 10 kind embraced by the present invention:

trample A.--Viscose artificial silk thread of 150 denier, 40 filaments, is dried on a reel of the above-described type having reel members provided with generally cylindrical portions AB' 7 5" in diameter and generally cylindrical portions 4.8" in diameter. The total length of the reel from A to D is The length of portion A-B is 1 the thread starting on the reel approximately from point A. The length of portion 3-0 is 2 such portion being frustoa conical in form. The thread is advanced along the reel in a plurality of generally helical turns spaced approximately fi" apart, being dried by heated air supplied from the interior of the reel at about 185 1". at a static pressure of about 6" 10 of water. Thread so dried has been found to have a residual capacity to shrink in the neighborhood of 2%% and to be substantially uniform along the entire length of the thread.

Example B.Viscose artificial silk thread of 150 1g denier, filaments, is dried on a reel of the above-described type having reel members each of which is provided with a generally cylindrical portion A-'-B 4.95" in diameter and a generally cylindrical portion CD 4.7" in diameter. The 9 total length of the reel from point A to D is 5". The thread travels H" on portion A-B before reaching point B. The length of portion 13-0 of the reel is 1 portion 3-0 of the reel being frusto-oonical in form. The thread is advanced as inja plurality of generally helical turns spaced approximately apart, being dried by heated air supplied from the interior of the reel at about 185 F. and at a static pressure of about 6" of water. Testsmade at periodic intervals along 80 the length of thread so dried have been found to reveal that the residual capacity to shrink is at all times lessthan' 1%, the average residual capacity 'to shrink being in the neighborhood of 5% with a variation therefrom plus or minus of ll less than .4%.

It has been found, further, that the amount of tension, in the wet thread at the commencement of the drying operation determines to an appreciable extent the amount of residual ca- 40 pacity to shrink imparted to the thread when it is dried on the reels of the present invention.

' 'Ihus if the thread is under substantial tension at the beginning of the drying operation, the residual capacity to shrink imparted to the thread will a be higher than if the thread is under little or no tension at the commencement of the drying operation. For this reason, it is desirable that,

at the commencement of the drying operation. the thread be under as little tension as practicaso ble for satisfactory operation of the reel.

Where the thread is dried on an individual drying reel, as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this may be accomplished by providing a peripheral speed of that portion of the II drying reel on which the thread first starts on the reel; i. e., portion A-B of the reel, which is less by a suitable amount than the linear speed at which the thread is supplied to the reel from the source of thread. Thus, in the ilustrated ap- 00 paratus in which the thread passes from a preceding reel to the drying reel, the peripheral speed of portion A-B of the drying reel may be less than the peripheral speed of the discharge end of the preceding reel. This may be accom- 66 plished, for instance, by making the portion AB of the drying reel and the discharge end of the preceding reel of the same diameters and rotating both reels at different angular speeds, or by making the diameter of portion A-B of the dry- (0 ing reel less than that of the discharge end of the preceding reel and driving both reels at the same speed, or by a combination of these methods. As a result, any tension in the thread will be released, the thread, if it is at all stretched, being bearing surfaces ofesaid cage members; and,

allowed to contract asit startson the .dryingreel.

As an example of the iefiect of the initialtension of the thread on the residual capacity to shrinkdmparted to. the thread the following is illustrative: Viscose artificial silk thread is dried according to the above-outlined method on an aluminum reel of the type above described- The reelzis 5'! long and has-reel members 5" in diameter at the end .at which the threadis started on ,the reel. The difierencein the diametersof portions A'-B and 0-D of the reelis l the reel being rotated at 165 R.P.. M. The threadisdried by heated air supplied from the interior of the reel at 185 F. The diameter of portion A-B ofthereel is the same as that-of the discharge end of the preceding reel and both-reels varepdriven rat the same speed. Consequently-"noattempt ism'ade to release any tension existing .in: thefthread.

The residual capacity to shrink. of the thread so dried is in the neighborhood of 1.6%.;5

Thread of the samekind is dried on a :reelof the'same general, dimensionsas the'reel of the preceding, example, the onlydifierenece being that the diameter of portion A- 'B'ofzthereelis 1% less than the diameter of the discharge end of the reel immediately preceding-it. In this case,'as in the preceding-case, there is a difference of l betweenith'e'diameters of portions A-B and 0-D of the reel. Both the 'reel:in,

question and the reel immediately preceding it arerotated at165R. P. M., the thread being dried by heated air at 185 F. supplied fromthe interior of the drying reel. The residual capacity to shrink is in the neighborhood of- ;.5%. 1 v

,The aboveedescribed .embodiments of the in-. vention being. purely illustrative, it is obvious that numerous modificationsmay be made therein'without departingv fronr the spirit of the invention. The invention array, for example, be applied to reels operated on other principles than that illustrated. Furthermore, whereas in the embodiment illustrated the reel is shown as having a periphery which includes a irustro.--conical portion,-the periphery of the reel may have any oneof a number of other contours.= The invena tion may be employed in any of the known processes for manufacturing 'artificialsilk thread, in-

. eluding 1 the viscose, nitrb-cellulose, cuprammonium and cellulose acetate processes. Furthermore, reels embodying the invention may be Y employed in other. forms of apparatus and for the drying of other kinds of thread or the like than artificial silk thread.

It is intended that the patent shallcover, by

suitable expression in the appended claims, what ever features ofpatentable noveltyreside in the invention. I I 9 What is claimed is:

' 1. In apparatus for drying thread or the like, a unitary, self-threading drying reel of cantilever construction which is madeupof a plurality of interdigitating cage members, which is supported from one end thereof in" such manner that the other end of the reel is not only unsupported but substantially unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the thread or the like is advanced in a large number of generally helical turns toward the unsupported end of the reel, said threadbearing periphery having perimeters taken on cross sections of the reel which diminish in the direction of advance of the thread or the like;

v 2. In apparatus for drying thread or the 1ike,ia unitary, self-threading drying reel of cantilever construction whichis made up of a pluralityof interdigitating cage members, which is supported from .one end thereof in such manner that the other end of the reel is not only unsupported but substantially :unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the threador the like is advanced in a large number of generally helical .turns toward theunsupported end of the reel, said thread-bearing periphery including a portionsadjacent the supported endof the reel characterized by substantially uniform cross sections and; merging therewith,'a portioncharacterized by perlmeterstaken on cross sections of the reel which diminish in the direction of advance of the thread or the like means providing relative movement of the threadbearing surfaces of said cage members;and means for=subjecting the thread or the like to drying conditions-asit is being advanced'on the reel.

3. *In" apparatus for dryingthreador the like, a -unitary,self-threading drying reel of cantilever construction, which-is made up of a plurality of interdigitating cage memberslwhich is supported from one end thereof in such manner that the other end of the reel'is'not only urisupported but substantially unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel ,a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the thread or the like is advanced inalarge number of generally helical-turns toward the unsup- I portedrendoi the reel, said thread-bearing periphery including a portion characterized by perimeters taken on cross sections ofxthe reel'which diminish in the drection of advanceof the thread,

or the like and, merging therewith, a portion ad- Jacent the unsupported end of the reel character 'ized -by substantially: uniform" cross sections;

means providing relative movement of the threadbearing surfaces of said cage members; and means v for subjecting the thread'or the like to drying condltionsas'it is beingadvanced on the reel. 1

4'. In'apparatus for drying thread or the like;

' adjacent the supported end of the reel characterized by substantially uniform cross sections, an intermediate portion characterized by perimeters taken on crosssections of the reel which diminish in the direction of advance of the thread or the like, and a terminal portion adjacent the unsupported end of the reel characterized by substantially uniform cross sections, the perimeter of said terminal portion being less than the perimeter of said initial portion; means provide ing relative movement of the thread bearing surfaces of saidcage members; and means for subjecting the thread or the like to drying conditions as it is being advanced on the reel. a

5. In apparatus for drying thread or the like, a unitary, self-threading drying reel of cantilever construction which is made up of a plurality of interdigitating cage members, which is supported from one end thereof in such manner that the other end is not only unsupported but substantially unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the thread'or the like is'advanced in alarge number of generally helical turns toward the unsupported end of the reel, said thread bearin'g periphery comprising two spaced, generally cylindrical portions of diiferent diameters of which the portion of smaller diameter is'adjacent the unsupported end of the reel and, intermediate said cylindrical portions, a portion of frusto-conicalform; means providing relative movement of the thread-bearing surfaces of said cage members; and means for subjecting the thread or the like to drying conditions as it is being advanced on said reel.

8. In combination with means providing relav along which the thread or the like is advanced in a large number of generally helical turns toward the unsupported end of the reel, said thread-- bearing periphery including a portion extending over a substantial part but not all of the reel having perimeters taken on cross sections of the reel which vary progressively in the direction of advance of the thread or the like.

7. In combination with means providing relative movement of the thread-bearing surfaces thereof. a unitary self-threading reel of cantilever construction which is made up of a plurality of interdigitating cage members, which is supported from one end thereof in such manner that the other end is not only unsupported but substantially unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the thread or the like is advanced in a large number of generally helical turns toward the unsupported end of the reel, said threadbearing periphery including a portion adjacent the supported end of the reel characterized by substantially uniform cross sections and, merging therewith, a portion characterized by perimeters taken on cross sections of the reel which vary progressively in the direction of advance of the thread or the like.

8. In combination with means providing relative movement of the thread-bearing surfaces thereof, a unitary, self-threading reel of cantilever constructioniwhich is made up of a plurality of 'interdigitating cage members, which is supported from one end thereof in such manner that the other end is not only unsupported but substantially unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the thread or the like is advanced in a large number of generally helical turns toward the unsupported end of the reel, said thread-bearing periphery including a portion characterized by perimeters taken on cross sections of the reel which vary progressively in the direction of advance of the thread or the like and, merging therewith, a portion adjacent the unsupported end of the reel characterized by substantially uniform cross sections.

9. In combination with means providing relative movement of the thread-bearing surfaces thereof, a unitary, self-threading drying reel of cantilever construction which is made up of a plurality of interdigitating cage members, which is supported from one end thereof in such manner that the other end is not only unsupported but substantially unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the thread or the like is advanced in a large number of generally helical turns toward the unsupported end of the reel, said threadbearing periphery including an initial portion adjacent the supported endv of the reel characterized by substantially uniform cross sections, an intermediate portion characterized by perimeters take 1 on cross sections of the reel which dimir. an in the direction of advance of the thread or he like, and a terminal portion adjacent the unsupported end of the reel characterized by substantially uniform cross sections, the perimeter of said terminal portion being less than the perimeter of said initial portion.

10. In combination with means providing relative movement of the thread-bearing surfaces thereof, a unitary, self-threading reel of cantilever construction which is made up of a plurality of interdigitating cage members, which is sup ported from one end thereof in such manner that the other end is not only unsupported but substantialiy unobstructed, and which presents lengthwise of the reel a thread-bearing periphery of substantially circular cross section along which the thread or the like is advanced in a large number of generally helical turns toward the unsupported end of the reel, said threadbearing' periphery comprising two spaced, generally cylindrical portions of different diameters and, intermediate said cylindrical portions, a portion of frusto-conical form.

HAYDEN B. KLINE. ALDEN H. BURKHOLDER. 

